5 reasons why Sarfraz Ahmed can become a great captain

When Azhar Ali stepped down from the leadership mantle after successive 1-4 thrashings in England and Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) replaced him with the most popular choice. After ascending to the throne of captaincy, Sarfraz Ahmed has overseen an unprecedented resurgence in his team's limited-overs fortunes.

Upon leading his country to their maiden Champions Trophy title in 2017, the wicketkeeper-batsman's ruthless leadership helped Pakistan inflict an emphatic 5-0 whitewash on an abject Sri Lankan side in the recently-concluded ODI series in the UAE.

Also Read: 5 star players who have turned Pakistan into a formidable ODI team

Even though he still has some way to go before replicating the steadiness of his predecessor Misbah-ul-Haq at the Test level, Sarfraz possesses the skills required for a leader and can leave behind an indelible legacy in the game.

Here are five reasons why the 30-year old can go on to become a great captain across all formats.

#5 Passionate about the game

Sarfraz's passion for cricket can be felt from the manner in which he reacts to different situations in the game. Not one to shy away from showing emotions on the field, the gloveman makes his thoughts pretty clear to his teammates whenever they do not live up to his lofty expectations. Such intense dedication to the team's cause and profound commitment to his country's honour should help him reach even bigger heights.

During the Champions Trophy, Sarfraz carried his team's aspirations by leading from the front. While the team did perform well on the whole, they would not have reached the semi-final if it was not for the captain's gutsy 79-ball 61* in the clash against Sri Lanka.

Even as wickets kept tumbling at the other end and the pressure reached a crescendo, he rode on his fierce determination to single-handedly lead his team to the knockouts.